Each of the medals we've won means something special, but this FoBAB medal might be my favorite of all. I remember first attending the festival back 10 years ago in 2015. The highlight that year for me was getting multiple pours of Goose Island Bourbon County Vanilla Rye, which I believe had just been released the year prior and was tasting amazing a year later. I want to say one of the big winners that year was Spiteful Brewing’s Malevolence Chocolate Caliente, which was one of my favorites of the day as well as being my intro to spicy stouts.
At this point 10 years ago, I was an avid homebrewer, but not in my wildest dreams would I have guessed I'd be there one day seeing my beer poured. Even then, 10 years ago, I knew FoBAB was special, and that some of the best breweries not only in Chicagoland, but also nationwide, bring their best of the best beers. These were the beers that brewers poured their love and creativity into, beers that sat in casks, often for years, waiting for their special moment to shine and be enjoyed. There were so many amazing beers I tried that day, and FoBAB is like that year after year.
Fast forward 10 years and my Saturday session of FoBAB ended much the same way as that first one a decade prior, having more beer at a brewery that I definitely didn't need given all the stout I tried at the fest, followed by a rough Sunday. The two key differences were that the brewery I was at this time was my own, and that we were celebrating a Bronze medal win, our first ever award at FoBAB. So many breweries I have so much respect and admiration for have won medals at this fest, both this year and in years prior, and many of them have influenced my own beer. Thanks to all my friends in the industry who have enabled us to reach a level where winning a medal in this festival is even possible.
And…thank you, River Rascals, for enthusiastically buying the beer we produce that enables us to keep this train rolling.
